U.S. patent number 5,927,714 [Application Number 09/021,446] was granted by the patent office on 1999-07-27 for interactive tic-tac-toe slot machine.
Invention is credited to Edward Kaplan.
United States Patent |
5,927,714 |
Kaplan |
July 27, 1999 |
Interactive tic-tac-toe slot machine
Abstract
A Tic-Tac-Toe slot machine having three parallel spaced reels.
The reels are covered around their circumference with reel strips
having spaced symbols of two different configurations such as "X"
and "O" and blank. The X's and O's blanks are intermixed on each
strip in an orderly fashion. Having three of the same symbols in an
aligned row designates a winner. With a slot machine having a
window that displays three rows of symbols there are eight possible
winning rows. Three rows in different horizontal planes, three rows
in vertical planes and from corner to corner in the form of an X.
The slot machine can be played with from one to eight coins. For
all possible winners one must play eight coins. The slot machine
having the option of spinning a choice reel again to induce an
interactive play. The slot machine is operated mechanically in the
same manner as present day existing slot machines.
Inventors: |
Kaplan; Edward (Absecon,
NJ) |
Family
ID: |
21804280 |
Appl.
No.: |
09/021,446 |
Filed: |
February 10, 1998 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
273/143R;
463/20 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F
17/34 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G07F
17/34 (20060101); G07F 17/32 (20060101); G07F
017/34 () |
Field of
Search: |
;273/143R,138.2,138A
;463/20 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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|
|
|
|
|
2117546 |
|
Oct 1983 |
|
GB |
|
2242300 |
|
Sep 1991 |
|
GB |
|
Primary Examiner: Layno; Benjamin H.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Greigg; Edwin E. Greigg; Ronald
E.
Claims
What is claimed:
1. An interactive TIC-TAC-TOE slot machine having spaced reels
which operate in parallel planes, each said reel adapted to spin
separately in response to deposit of at least one coin in said
machine, each of said reels including a reel strip on a
circumference of the reel on which at least two different symbols
are displayed, said different symbols constitute X's and O's which
are equally spaced and intermixed in an orderly arrangement on said
reel strip, said symbols may be disposed in alternation with each
other along a first portion of the strip, each said strip has a
second portion having three X's disposed in succession and a third
portion having three O's disposed in succession, wherein the
symbols fill the strip with X's, O's and blanks, said slot machine
has a display window through which at least one symbol on each reel
is displayed in alignment, and selection means are provided to
allow at least one of said reels to be spun a further time, whereby
a player's chances of winning are increased.
2. A TIC-TAC-TOE slot machine as set forth in claim 1, in which
said at least one row of symbols are aligned in a horizontal
plane.
3. A TIC-TAC-TOE slot machine as set forth in claim 2, in which
there are three rows of symbols displayed in said window.
4. A TIC-TAC-TOE slot machine as set forth in claim 3, in which
said reels of said slot machine rotate in vertical planes.
5. A TIC-TAC-TOE slot machine as set forth in claim 1, in which
there are three rows of symbols displayed in said window.
6. A TIC-TAC-TOE slot machine as set forth in claim 5, in which
said reels of said slot machine rotate in vertical planes.
7. A TIC-TAC-TOE slot machine as set forward in claim 6, in which
any one of said three reels can be activated again.
Description
This invention is directed to a slot machine and more particularly
to a slot machine in which an eight-way payout is generated,
reminiscent of the game of TIC-TAC-TOE.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is well known that slot machines of various types are used in
the game-of-chance industry. These slot machines display different
fruits, bars, blank spaces, cards, etc. A payout is made in
accordance with a scheme in which certain pre-selected alignments
of the indicia shown in the display windows occur. Slot machines
usually have three or more side-by-side reels that rotate in a
vertical plane. A payout is usually made by aligning a winning
display in horizontal lines across each of the three reels. Usually
when one coin is played a winning combination is displayed in a
single horizontal line. If additional coins are played additional
horizontal display combinations can be used for a payout. For
instance, a slot machine may display three different horizontal
combination alignments. A payout is made for a winning display
combination in the middle horizontal line for one coin played. The
upper line can be played for a second coin and the bottom line can
be played for a third coin. Additionally some machines accept up to
five coins, so that in addition to the above scheme, winning
combinations can be made in an alignment of display windows in an X
format where a fourth coin would win along one leg of the X and a
fifth coin will win along the other leg of the X. Thus, for such
machines, five coins can be played for five different winning
combinations. A typical reel type machine can be used for any
number of coins played and for different arrangements of winning
combinations up to five different winning combinations.
In addition to reel type machines, electronic display machines are
now in use for different combinations of card games, such as Black
Jack and Poker in which this design can be implemented.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention differs over any prior art known slot machine in
which an existing three reel side-by-side vertical rotatable
mechanism or electronic display is used. In carrying out this
invention, the reel strips are changed to display symbols such as
X's and O's and blanks. Other symbols could be used; however, this
invention is directed to using a three-reel slot machine to play
TIC-TAC-TOE. In playing TIC-TAC-TOE it is known to use an X and O
to differentiate between two players movements. Therefore, it is
proposed that the reel strips be changed to display X's and
O's.
It is therefore an object of this invention to set forth a three
reel slot machine for displaying running combinations of X's and
O's in which the winning combination arrangement aligns three X's
or three O's in a row.
A further object is to set forth a slot machine for playing
TIC-TAC-TOE in which as many as eight winning combinations can be
displayed.
The invention will be better understood and further objects and
advantages thereof will become more apparent from the ensuing
detailed description of a preferred embodiment taken in conjunction
with the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The drawing illustrates a display of a slot machine illustrating
different payout lines, reels with symbols and operating
buttons.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The drawing (FIGURE 1) illustrates a frontal display (4) of a
vertically rotatable, three reel slot machine in which each of the
reel strips include an assembly of X's and O's and blanks (3). For
a winning combination, three X's or three O's must be aligned in
sequence along the same row such as in a commonly played game of
TIC-TAC-TOE. In this slot machine, there are eight possible winning
combinations (1). Thus, in a game of chance, eight coins could be
played, one coin for each different possible winning combination
lines (1). The eight winning combinations are as follows and may
represent a winning combination for each coin played in the
following order. The middle horizontal line (Line 1) would payout
for the first coin, the upper horizontal line (Line 2) for the
second coin; the bottom horizontal line (Line 3) for the third
coin. Combination vertically displayed on each reel from the left
to the right (Lines 4,5,6) for the fourth through the sixth coin.
Alignment from the upper left symbol through the middle and down to
the lower right symbol for the seventh coin (Line 7); and for the
eighth coin in a line (Line 8) from the upper right symbol through
the middle symbol and down to the lower left symbol. Each of the
first through the third coins would win if any combination of three
X's or three O's appear in the horizontal line (Line 1,2,3). The
fourth through the sixth coins would require any combination of
three X's or three O's on the reels displayed vertically in order
from the top to the bottom (Line 4,5,6). And the seventh and eighth
coin would require any combination of three X's or three O's in an
alignment such as one leg of an X (Line 7,8). For the display shown
in the drawing (FIGURE 1) only the eighth coin would be a winner
since three O's are aligned along one leg of an X, which is line
eight. The number of coins for any winning combination can be in
accordance with the payout arrangement of the machine. For
instance, if the entire display is all X's or O's the payout would
be the jackpot. Each of the payout lines are separate and each of
the payout lines are for a specific coin played. The above
arrangement of proposed payouts from the first coin to the eighth
coin is a suggested payout scheme. It would be obvious to anyone
skilled in the art that the payout for each coin played could be
structured in a different pay order and would depend on the manner
in which the machine was programmed. The scheme as set forth above
would be preferred.
A slot machine having three reels (2) that rotate in side-by-side
horizontal planes could be used and the payout scheme could be
arranged as set forth above or changed to a different order in
accordance with the reel arrangement. Such a slot machine display
would be shown if the drawing figure were to be rotated
90.degree..
In carrying out the invention each of the reels will be covered
over its entire circumference with a reel strip having exposed
spaced symbols such as X's and O's and blanks. The spacing of the
symbols (3) on the strips and the stopping position of each reel
should be such that three symbols including blanks (3) on each reel
will be seen when viewing the window and the center symbol will be
at the middle of the window vertically. The symbols will be placed
on the reel strips in a mixed fashion so that in one section the
X's and O's can alternate with each other. In another section two
X's and then two O's can be placed on the strip in series. In order
to have a jackpot payout the entire window display would have the
same symbols in each of the nine positions. Therefore, each strip
must have at least one section with three X's in sequential
alignment and at least one section with at least three O's in
sequential alignment.
The slot machine is set up with each of the three reels (2) having
a strip of pre-arranged symbols (3) thereon, that is, X's and O's
and blanks or some other symbols in the same configuration. The
slot machine is programmed for a payout for each of the rows having
three of the same symbols in alignment. The player will insert from
one to eight coins in the machine and then a handle or start button
(8 or 10) will be operated. Each of the reels (2) will rotate
independently of each other and will stop at different times so
that nine symbols (3) will appear in the window with the symbols
(3) aligned horizontally and vertically. Any of the payout lines
(1) indicated above that has three symbols (3) of the same
configuration such as three X's or three O's in alignment will be a
winner. After the reels (2) have stopped, the player evaluates the
winnings and has the option to spin one reel again of their
choosing to try to increase their winnings using spin buttons
(5,6,7) or stand and keep their winnings using button (11) or
collect their winnings using button (12). A player has the ability
to play again using buttons 9,10 thereby increasing his odds of
winning. That form of play, without the deposit of additional
coins, makes this an "interactive" slot machine by allowing the
player to interact directly with the machine. As shown in the
drawing (FIGURE 1) only payout line 7 has three O's; therefore,
payout line 7 would be a winner and the other seven payout lines
would be a loser.
Whenever a row of three of the same symbols (3) are in line, that
payout line will pay the player only if that player bet on that
payout line. Also in the design, the game would be either to bet on
the "X" or the "O" before the game is played for a bonus payout, or
can be used to try to double your winnings. Or another way to play
would be to bet what lines can be played by pressing a button at
each line you want to bet, you must have bet the amount played.
Many variations can be made for this game. No major electronics
will need to be changed. All that would need to be changed is the
reel strips and the ROMs for the computer of the machine to be
converted. Also needed to be changed would be the glass face of the
machine to understand the payout sequence.
THE PLAY
Along the bottom of the slot machine display (2) are the control
buttons each of which has words designated. After the desired
amounts of coins are deposited, the player will press the spin all
button (8) to spin all reels. After the reels have stopped, the
spin buttons (5,6,7) will provide an opportunity for the player to
spin an independent reel one more time if the player choose to try
to improve upon the payout. If the player does not desire to try to
increase their winnings the player pushes the stand button (11) in
order to keep their winnings indicated. The payout--credit button
(12) affords the player the opportunity to cash out any earnings or
credit the machine for more play, that is if the player has any
winnings. The player winnings can be added as credits so the
machine can be played by the use of the bet one button (9) or bet
all button (10) so the player can use credits rather than
depositing more money into the slot machine, not shown. Each button
will illuminate at a designated time to ensure that the player has
less confusion on how to play. Example: after the player has
deposited the amount of coins of desire, the bet one button (9)
will light and the spin all button (8) will flash. If the player
has deposit at least eight coins the bet all (10) button will also
light. After the spin all button (8) has been pressed all reels
will spin. After all reels have stopped the spin buttons (5,6,7)
will light and the stand button (11) will flash. This process with
the lighted buttons will help the player enjoy the game.
The foregoing relates to preferred exemplary embodiments of the
invention, it being understood that other variants and embodiments
thereof are possible within the spirit and scope of the invention,
the latter being defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *